#8 R&B

“Hum Along and Dance” is another smash from the minds of the songwriting team Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield.  It appeared on  the Tempting Temptations 1970 hit LP “Psychedelic Shack.” (#1 R&B & #9 Pop).

The original tune was 3 minutes and 52 seconds long making it a very long song for the era. I consider this song  the writing duo’s precursor to “Smiling Faces.”

Please listen and enjoy.

#95 R&B

Rare Earth’s 5 minute and 19 second version of “Hum Along and Dance” comes from their 1973 release “MA.”   Take a listen to this even longer version of this classic.

The Jackson 5′s  8 minutes and 37 second version appeared on their 1973 LP “Get It Together.”  “GIT” was the J5′s second album release of 1973 (September): they had released “Skywriter” earlier that year in March.  Like the entire LP, “HAaD” was an awesome  track — but even better is the 15 minute and 7 second extended version. This one is here for your listening pleasure: it was one of the bonus cuts on my “Joyful Jukebox Music” re-issue CD.

This version is tops IMHO!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCCDxyjDRWg

Now that you have seen this vintage J5 performance of “HAaD” with the handsome Jackie Jackson doing Eddie Kendricks’ high tenor lead part, vote for your favorite here and now. Be sure to leave comments as to why you prefer one rendition over the other.

Musically Yours,

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Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland  compositions,  as performed by the Funk Brothers,  are a major part of the “Motown Sound” and this song is no exception.

I will just let you listen to all of these renditions by the Motown artists and let you hear for yourself. This is Classic Motown at it’s best IMHO.

#9 R&B, #50 Pop

First here is the extended version by the very under-rated and so often over -looked Elgins. This 1966 hit is my favorite!

And this version of “Heaven Must Have Sent You” is the Funk Brothers with The Andantes on vocals. For those of you that don’t know — this is the Motown “House Band” and the “House Backup Singers”

This Supremes rendition comes from my 2000 Box Set Bonus Disc (Now OOP). Since I have digitized most of my music collection I don’t have the Box Set Booklet at my fingertips, but I will eventually locate it and see if it has a recording date for this tune and update this post accordingly.

Naturally Bonnie Pointer’s first Motown LP released in 1978, produced by her husband Jeffrey Bowen,  had the required Jobete published cover tunes,  but this one was given a “Disco” flavor to update it to the then current sound of pop music. It was actually quite successful in 1979.

Now it is time for your opinion readers. Pick you fave and tell us why in the comments section.

Musically Yours,

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#1 R&B, #2 Pop

An American Musical Treasure, Stevie Wonder,  had  this  smash hit single  “I Was Made To Love Her”  in 1967.   Composed by  Henry Cosby, Lula Mae Hardaway (Stevie’s Mom) , Sylvia Moy and  Stevie Wonder , the song also appeared on a subsequently released LP (#7 R&B, #45 Pop) with the same name.

This was, and still is, one of my early Stevie favorites that I wore the grooves off of my little 45! ( And BTW I still have that beloved 45 rpm disc too!)

Motown’s next child prodigy also recorded a cover of  “I Was Made To Love Her”.  I don’t know in what year this J5 rendition was recorded,  but I can tell you that it was removed from “The Vault” and put on wax and released after the J5 left Motown and had started making their hits on Epic records.

This track appeared on the LP “Boogie” released in 1979. According to the MJFCL:

‘Boogie’ is a very rare Jackson 5 LP which was released in Canada in January 1979. It was released by Natural Resources (a division of Motown) and included tracks not available anywhere else. Due to legal problems, it was withdrawn shortly after its release and it is now very hard to come by. (SOURCE: The Michael Jackson Fan Club)

The original LP may be rare, but you can still get the songs that were on “Boogie” along with the songs on another Motown Vault release from 1976 entitled “Joyful Jukebox Music” on a two-fer that is currently in print: it combines the songs from both LPs with additional bonus tracks. The name of the release is “Joyful Jukebox Music.”

The “IWMTLH”  also appeared on another much later  Motown Vault release entitled “Looking Back on Yesterday.” It is labeled as a Michael Jackson product (not J5) and was released in 1986 to capitalize on MJJ’s solo superstardom no doubt.  This song  set is also out of print.

Forty  years later another former young group of Motown artists, Boyz II Men, would also cover “IWMTLH” for their 2007  Decca release “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA.” An d why not — this song is classic Motown!

Now it is time to vote for your song preference while you listen to the San Remo Golden Strings performance of “I Was Made To Love Her” to help you decide who’s lead you prefer, Stevie’s or Mike’s.

Musically Yours,

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I remember playing this Gordy 45 rpm over and over and over again on my grey and white record player. In fact I still have the record!

The day I first heard it was the day that I purchased the “Get Ready”  Single, the last song Smokey Robinson wrote and produced for The Temptations. Of course before I played it I flipped it over to hear the B-Side: this was my habit because  some of my most favorite songs were to be found on B-sides that often NEVER made it to LPs.  Beside as a tween I didn’t always have LP money, but I always could scrounge up change to purchase a 45.

Anyway, I played “Fading Away,” the B-Side to  “Getting Ready,” over  and over  and over again and just sat their swooning at Eddie’s voice imagining how it would be when I grew up and met and finally married him (ROTFLOL).

This sweet,  sweet  ballad was composed by three of Motown’ s own  “Miracles”  — Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Robert “Bobby” Rogers.

Oh well it kept me off of the streets!

This Motown cover is another of those on the one and only Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers Motown Album.  I do enjoy the harmonizing at the hook that is different from the Temptations original,  but all in all no one can do it like those Tempting Temptations.

So which version is your favorite?

Musically Yours,

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#3 R&B, #18 Pop

Composed by The Miracles’ members Warren “Pete” Moore and Smokey Robinson, “It’s Growing” comes from The Temptations’ second Motown  LP — “The Temptations Sing Smokey.” This LP topped the  R&B charts at #1 and was #35 on the Pop LP charts.

Dennis Edwards joined the Contours in 1967 and sang lead on the group’s cover version of “It’s Growing.” This cover stayed buried in the “Motown Vault” until it surfaced on a British Budget compilation in the 70s.  I first heard it on another British Motown compilation that  I purchased decades later  entitled “Tamla Motown Connoisseurs.”

“It’s Growing” was the second song that The Temptations released featuring group member David Ruffin. How ironic that Edwards sang lead on this Temptations’ cover song as a member of the Contours and would eventually replace David Ruffin in the Temptations!

Originally hailing from Canada, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers were Motown’s first hit interracial group.  Their cover version of “It’s Growing” comes from their first and only Motown LP, pictured above.

You know the drill – time to vote for your favorite Motown rendition of “It’s Growing.” Which is your favorite? Leave comments and let us know why.

Musically Yours,

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#1 R&B, #8 Pop

This chart topper, co-written by producer Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland and The Temptations guitar player Cornelius Grant, was another hit from the fabulous “Gettin’ Ready” Album.

Not too much I can say about this song that hasn’t already been said except this is Classic Motown and Classic Temptations at their best. I especially loved to see the gents perform this live and do their Temptations walk around in a circle during the “dodo wop” background part. . So smooth. So smooth. So smooth.

We all know the very young Michael Jackson could sing, but so could the very young original lead singer of The Jackson Five — Jermaine Jackson.  Just listen to his lead on “(I Know)  I’m Losing You” to hear for yourself.  This appeared on the very first Motown album release by the boys  entitled “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson Five.”  This introductory set by the brothers, released in 1969)  topped the R&B Charts (#1) in 1970 and climbed to #5 Pop the same year.

This Motown cover is one of many from Gladys Knight and the Pips’ third LP release with Motown called “Nitty Gritty.” The album charted #11 R&B in 1970 but only #84 Pop in 1960. Nevertheless it is an awesome collection of cover tunes with a few hit originals thrown in. Have you heard it before?

This won’t be the last time this LP will be mentioned here at OSML so stay tuned.

#20 R&B,  #7 Pop

Last but not least is the 1970  Rare Earth cover that appeared on Rare Earth’s first Motown  LP  entitled  “Ecology.”  This monster album was #4 R&B and #15 Pop,  thanks in part to this remarkable arrangement of  “(I Know) I’m Losing You” that you can’t help but love. Right?

Of course you must now vote to share your favorite version. Comments as to why you made your selection are not only welcomed but encouraged.

Before signing off  be sure to take a look at this video from the 1968 TCB television special with Dennis Edwards doing what was originally David Ruffin’s lead part on the song.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CbzHIVtRj0

Musically Yours,

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Even though I am a huge Eddie Kendricks fan, “Get Ready”  is not high on my list of Kendricks’ led Temptations songs. I think this is because the song has been so over- used  (IMHO) when it comes to Motown references over these past decades.

But this song is a perfect way to kick off the new Theme of OSML posts for May 2010 … “Motown Covers  Motown”!

I have used this theme before, including two posts of another original Temptations song that song Rare Earth covered called “Smiling Faces”.   If you missed out on that post just click on the link in the song title.

You may also select the Theme “Motown Covers Motown”  in the OSML Category Search to the far right and read the dozens of  other Motown songs that were covered by Motown artists that you may or may not have been aware of.

#1 R&B & #29 Pop in 1966

First please enjoy The Temptations’ original hit rendition from their chart topping (#1 R&B & #12 Pop)  LP pictured above.  Of course this great song is one of the many Smokey Robinson penned hits that the  Temptations had.

While not exactly a Motown Group, per se, The San Remo Golden Strings were a Detroit group of studio musicians.  Some played for the Detroit Symphony and some were a part of Motown’s Funk Brothers so I felt this version of “Get Ready” was worthy of inclusion in this post. Click on the link above to read what “Soulful Detroit” has to say on the history of the group.

R&B #20 & Pop #4 in 1970

From their  debut LP,  “Get Ready” released in 1969 on Motown records, Rare Earth’s cover of “Get Ready” was a 21 minute and 30 second live jam that propelled the LP to #4 R&B and #12 Pop.

I vividly recall that this was THE lunch hour jam to listen to in high school to when it  first came out.  Rocking out on a Motown classic was something we had never heard before at it was totally awesome to digest for the first time!

Now that you have heard the official released single versions please watch and enjoy these live performances before you vote on your fave.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mReSXE2HCA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Z8NU5ImK0

Musically Yours,

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#3 R&B, #24 Billboard Hot 100 in 1956

The original Five Satins; Fred Parris, Al Denby, Ed Martin, and Jim Freeman, were  put together as a vocal group in 1954 New Haven Connecticut by Fred Parris.  His composition “In The Still Of The Night” was the first single they released on Standard Records in 1956.  By the time the song had been leased to Ember Records and became  a hit on the charts, Parris (now out of high school)  had been drafted and was serving in the Army in Japan!!

This classic is the song the group is most remembered for and is thought of immediately when the word “Doo-wop” is mentioned.

#3 Rhythmic Top 110, #4 Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles, #3 Billboard Hot 100 & #2 Top 40 Mainstream in 1992

Timeless is another way to describe this song. Listen to Boyz to Men cover it four decades later! Plus it charted again!

Great tune, great singing — what more could you ask for!

Enjoy this vintage live performance while it lasts on YouTube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBT3oDMCWpI

Musically Yours,

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There are  more 1969 Grammy Awards left  to discuss then there is month left in February  .

I had a hard time deciding which award winning song to close the month out with, but finally decided on one of my favorite dance tunes of the Sixties -sung by one of my favorite tenors of all time — The Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing”  which won the 1969 Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance By a Group or Duo.

The brothers had been around as a gospel quartet ever since the fifties.  The group was made up of brother Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Vernon Isley. When Vernon passed  after a bicycle accident in 1955,  Ronald became the new lead singer.

From the RCA label with their soulful sounds (“the classics “Shout” and “Twist & Shout”),  to their own label T-Neck, to Motown’s Tamla label, and finally back to T-neck the brothers had their hard-knocks on the road to  Grammy Gold.

Like many others in the Motown stable, The Isley Brothers were tired of the neglect they received at Motown while Gordy concentrated on making The Supremes, The Temptations and Diane Ross the superstars of the label.

They were released from their contract and almost immediately the brothers co-wrote “It’s Your Thing” and released it on their own T-Neck label.  The funky “IYT” topped the R&B charts at #1 and the Billboard Top 100 at #2 , then went on the win the first Grammy Award for any former Motown artist.

Everyone covered the song including many Motown artists.  I am especially partial to The Temptations’ psychedelic cover: the vocals harmonies are awesome! The J5 version is pretty great too IMHO. Check them out right now and let me know what you think.

The Temptations 1960 cover version

This is the original vocal from the J5 cover but it is a current extended Remix that I have been listening to a lot lately. Hope you enjoy it.

Trivia. This is the first song on which the then 17 yr old, baby brother,  Ernie Isley,  played bass on a song. Of course brother Ernie would go on to become an integral part of the third generation Isley Brothers renamed  Isley Brothers 3 +3 — one of the most successful self contained family funk units of the seventies.

The Isley Brothers first charted in 1959 with “Shout -- Part 1″ ( #47 billboard top 100)

The Isley Brothers next appearance on the music charts was in 1962 with  “Shout -- Part 1″ (#94 Billboard top 100)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9xOLpwI0I

Musically Yours,

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Another hit written and produced by Ashford and Simpson from the Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell LP of the same name — “You’re All I need to get By” was  one of the biggest hits of Marvin & Tammi’s career as a duo.  It charted #1 on the R&B charts and remained there for 5 weeks!  The song charted #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1968 as well. This is one of my favorites by the singing duo!

Aretha covered the Marvin & Tammi  smash hit in 1971 for her  “Aretha’s Greatest Hits” LP.  This cover did not earn her the Grammy, as did her second cover  from the same LP did (“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” ) in 1974,   but the single did  chart #3 R&B and #19 Pop and remained at #19 on the British singles charts for an amazing 19 weeks!

Sometimes I wonder about the Grammy voters: personally this cover seems more  Grammy worthy than “Real Thing” cover did  — but that’s just my opinion.

Ashford & Simpson

One awesome song sung in two different styles! Although covered and sampled by many other artists --  these two renditions presented today are my favorites.  I can’t really pick one over the other. Can you?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO-e34PslOk

Aretha Live 1978

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxIIcIMycXQ

Bonus Cover Version just for you 

Musically Yours,

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